2010 VEXAG International Workshop: Venus, Our Closest Earth-like Planet: From Surface to Thermosphere - How does it Work?
Start date: 31 Aug 2010
Address: Madison, Wisconsin, United States
In the nearly five decades since the Mariner 2 fly-by, we have learned much about Venus' dynamic atmosphere, yet a good understanding of how the Venus atmosphere works and how it interacts with the surface is lacking.
Major questions remain unanswered in dynamics, chemistry, surface-atmosphere interactions, radiative balance, climatology, and evolution of the Venus atmosphere.
At this workshop a number of these issues will be explored; a sampling of suggested topics for the workshop is given below:- Nature, process, and consequence(s) of surface-atmosphere interaction?
- Timing and cause of water loss from Venus' surface, and impact on atmospheric evolution
- Venus' runaway greenhouse effect and implications for Earth's climate evolution?
- Nature, period, an atmospheric impact of the global cataclysm that resurfaced Venus?
- Atmospheric dynamics, including origin of the superrotation of the Venus atmosphere, possible coupling between Hadley circulation and the hemispheric vortex circulation?
It is anticipated that the workshop will have a number of comprehensive presentations that will assimilate available spacecraft and ground-based observations as constraints to answering some of the major questions about the atmosphere of Venus.
The workshop will also present an opportunity for fostering coordination between various international missions to Venus to maximize science return. The workshop will be followed by the 8th VEXAG meeting on 2 September 2010.